OWENSBORO, Ky. (5/3/13) – Michael Shelton, a junior at Daviess County High School, has been selected to represent the state of Kentucky at the 2013 Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference in Washington, D.C., July 13-18.

Shelton was also recently selected to participate in the 2013 Governor’s Scholars Program, but has declined that honor to attend the journalism conference, which will take place at the Newseum, the Freedom Forum’s museum of news, media and the First Amendment. Shelton and other outstanding journalism students from across the country will attend sessions with media professionals, news executives and prominent “free spirits,” exemplifying the legacy of the late Al Neuharth, founder of USA Today and the Freedom Forum.

Student participants will be expected to cover the conference as journalists and write articles or produce segments for their school newspapers or other media.

Shelton is a student journalist at DCHS, working under the direction of Amber Hall, who serves as faculty adviser for the “Big Red Machine” student newspaper and the Echoes yearbook staff. “Michael is the perfect fit for such a unique opportunity,” Hall said.

“He will reap the benefits of his hard work by meeting today’s industry leaders who are housed in and around Washington, D.C. His experiences leave him well qualified for this program, and I’m proud he is representing Daviess County High School,” Hall said.

Shelton, who plans a double major in political science and communications in college, was selected for this program based on competitive evaluation of a submitted portfolio of writing and photography samples, two essays, teacher nominations, grade point average and ACT scores.

“I applied thinking there was a slim chance I would be chosen, but I knew there was no chance to be chosen if I didn’t apply,” Shelton said. “When I received the email, I was shocked and shaking with excitement. I find it a great honor to be representing not only Kentucky, but also Daviess County at this conference.”

In addition to attending the all-expenses-paid program, Shelton will receive a $1,000 scholarship to attend the college of his choice.